While we continue to stay home, our personal spaces have become more important to us than ever before and are worth recognizing. In the coming weeks, we will be appreciating the living spaces where interior designers, business leaders and other notables are spending their time these days.
From elegant New York City brownstones to laid-back Wyoming ranches, Bruce Kading brings the highest level of expertise to every project near and far. The impressive Minneapolis-based interior designer shared with us his timeless 1930s Tudor home.
Photography provided by Bruce Kading
What’s your approach to design when it comes to your own living space?
I’m my own worst client because I’ve never been able to narrow my style down to a single focus. As a result, our house is filled with layers of Asian art, European antiques, clean-lined furniture, family heirlooms, vintage farm objects, and souvenirs from our travels — but everything goes together.
What are some of your favorite decor, design or architectural elements in your home?
Our house is a cozy 1930s Tudor with good bones and beautiful architectural details. I especially love the plaster cove ceilings with plaster braid and the original hand-troweled plaster walls that lend a wonderful moodiness to the rooms. I also love the French doors, the arched windows with plantation shutters, and the fireplace, which is very understated with wonderful proportions.
How did you approach the design of your home?
My only rule is that I have to love the piece! Whether I’m arranging antique Wedgwood jasperware in one of my corner cabinets or putting another book on the bookshelf, I’m always adding another layer to my collections — and another chapter to the story.
What’s your process for finding pieces for your home?
I don’t have a formal process. Instead, I find pieces and they find me. For example, my mother was friends with a local historian/antiques dealer, so I have an original tapestry from an 1880s mansion in our hometown of Stuart, Iowa, and an antique clock that belonged to a wealthy man who donated the land for our city park.
If you could add one design item to your home, what would it be?
Right now, there isn’t a thing I need. But when it shows up, I’ll happily find a place for it!
Do you have a favorite room?
I love all my rooms, but the living room is wonderful for entertaining. At night, it’s really special since the lighting and all the layers make it serene yet dramatic.
What room do you spend most of your time in? How does this room serve you?
I spend a lot of time reading and working in my sunroom. It’s comfortable and filled with light, so it’s both inviting and energizing.
How are your personal spaces bringing you comfort or joy right now?
My wife, Marcia, and I feel really lucky to be in a place that brings us so much joy. We’re really enjoying the time to rediscover our house. It feels like we’re on a mini grand tour!
